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Notice to the elderly and persons with disabilities for the general primary election
•January 14, 2026•
Notice to the elderly and persons with disabilities for the March 17 general primary election Citizens who are not registered to vote and cannot leave their home or Nursing Home/Assisted Living Facility because of a permanent physical disability can arrange for voter registration and voting by contacting the Moultrie County Clerk’s office. The last day of regular registration for voting before the March 17, 2026, General Primary Election is Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Grace Period registration, transfer of registration, and voting are February 18, 2026, through Election Day. Anyone can register at the County Clerk’s office, Moultrie County Courthouse, 10 S. Main, Suite 6, Sullivan, Illinois, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. However, if a person is unable to come to the Courthouse, they may call the County Clerk’s office to arrange for registration. All polling locations in Moultrie County are accessible to the elderly and persons with disabilities. Voting aids and assistance are available, if needed, in marking the ballot. If for some reason a person is unable to go to the polls on Election Day, they may call the Clerk’s office and arrange for a Vote by Mail ballot. The last day a Vote by Mail ballot can be mailed out is THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2026. The last day to Early Vote in person at the County Clerk’s office is March 16, 2026, with the exception of Grace Period Registration and Voting. For further information concerning polling locations, Vote by Mail, Early Voting, or Grace Period Registration/Voting, please contact the Moultrie County Clerk’s office at 728-4389.
Three inducted into newly established SHS Athletic Hall of Fame
•January 14, 2026•
by E. Scott England
Many great athletes have graced the courts, fields, and pools for Sullivan athletics. State champions, collegiate standouts, and overall talented student-athletes have long represented Sullivan High School on some of the biggest platforms. While SHS has long recognized alumni during homecoming with their Sullivan Who’s Who and Sullivan High School Hall of Fame, never before had they had an athletic-specific recognition.
That has all changed this year with the inaugural class of former Redskin athletes being given the honor of being inducted into the recently formed Sullivan High School Athletics Hall of Fame. Three former student-athletes, who excelled both on and off their respective playing arenas were recently recognized before a crowd at the new high school gym. Originally planned for the Redskin Christmas Shootout that ended up cancelled due to weather, the induction came between the JV and varsity basketball games on December 19. Roger Beavers (1959), Seth Dunscomb (1993), and Luke Standerfer (1998) were all awarded this prestigious honor.
Read MoreProject Help Preschool Round Up
•January 14, 2026•
The Arthur School District and the Project HELP Preschool program will be offering free developmental screening to provide parents with an opportunity to discover how their child is developing in the areas of speech, language, concepts, and motor skills. Vision and hearing screenings will also be offered, free of charge. It’s time to think about Pre-school and Kindergarten for the upcoming school year for your child. To find out what preschool options are available in your community or to pre-register your child for kindergarten, schedule an appointment to have your child screened.
This screening will take place on Friday, April 10th, at the Lovington United Methodist Church, 241 South Broadway Street in Lovington. For an appointment, call Tiffany Reedy at (217) 873-4318. Signed parent or guardian permission is required. Screenings are required for potential enrollment in the Project HELP preschool program. To pre-register your child for kindergarten, bring a certified copy of their birth certificate, a physical with immunization records, dental and vision exams will also be accepted, if available.
Agri Fab Inc. to host community blood drive
•January 14, 2026•
Agri Fab Inc. will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27th at 809 S Hamilton ST, inside the Gold Classroom To donate, contact ImpactLife Urbana at (800) 747 5401 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 71025 to locate the drive. Appointments are requested. Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate. For questions about eligibility, please call ImpactLife at (800) 747 5401. Donors who last gave blood on or before 12/2/25 are eligible to give at this drive.
Annual meeting
•January 14, 2026•
The Lovington Community Ambulance annual board meeting will be held Thursday, January 15, 7:30 p.m., at the ambulance house in Lovington.
Sparrow’s Unlimited bfast
•January 14, 2026•
Sparrow’s Unlimited will host a breakfast at Church of God Family Life Center in Lovington on Saturday, January 17 from 7:00-10:00 a.m. Delivery is available for Lovington residents 60 and older by calling 217-201-0662. The menu will consist of biscuits and gravy, hash brown casserole, sausage patties, cinnamon rolls and pancakes. Meal is by donation.
HICF gives grant to the Life Center of Sullivan
Submitted
This grant was designated specifically for the Life Center food pantry, which continues to serve families in Moultrie County with consistency, compassion, and care. Dedicated volunteers and leaders ensure shelves are stocked, and neighbors are fed, not just during the holidays, but all year long. HICF has partnered with the Life Center before, and will continue to be inspired by the quiet, faithful way they meet real needs in Moultrie County.
To those seeking a way to support their work, the Life Center currently has a new forklift on its Christmas list to help with daily operations. That wish list can be found on the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation website for anyone who would like to help make that need a reality: heartofillinois.org/community-wish-list.
Music bingo fundraiser
•January 7, 2026•
The Empower Academy Competition Team, parents, and the 5678 Booster Club will be hosting a music bingo fundraiser on Saturday, January 10, at Willow Ridge Winery. With help from the Prairie Fire DJ Service, the event will start at 6:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased from participating dance team parents. The event is 18 years of age and over only. Tables for 8 can be purchased for $200, or individual seats for $30. For more information, contact Ginger Voegel at (217) 549-3877 or email sdsboosterclub@gmail.com.
Sampling of Illinois laws in effect as of Jan. 1st
•January 7, 2026•
Beginning January 1st, 2026, new laws take effect in Illinois, with many focusing on issues such as privacy, immigration, and education. Illinois also gains an official state bean, and of course, there are a few that impact roadways and youth employment. A Senate Bill also addresses aid in dying. Below are a few of the highlights.
House Bill 3773, introduced by lawmakers in 2023, regulates employer use of artificial intelligence. An amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act, this bill makes it a civil rights violation for employers to use AI tools that result in discrimination based on race, gender, age, or disability in hiring, promotion, discipline, termination, or other employment terms.
House Bill 1615 permits the U.S. flag to be displayed on the grounds of a courthouse. Previously, the law was that the nation’s flag could only be displayed on top of a courthouse.
House Bill 4439 has designated the soybean as the official state bean.
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